Spring-hinge



(No Model.) J KEENE s Sheets-Sheet 1.

SPRING HINGE. No. 548,064. PatQHtQdO-Gt. 15, 1895.

Ni'risn STATES ATENT FFICE.

JOSEPH KEENE, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-HINGE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 548,064, dated October 15, 1895.

Application flled May 15, 1895. Serial No. 549,363. (No model.)

in Spring-Hinges, of which I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification.

My presentinvention has relation more particularly to that class of spring-hinges known as double-acting hinges, and especially designed for sustaining doors that are adapted to be swung in either direction from a centrally-closed position.

The object of the invention is to provide a simple, durable, and efiective construction of double-acting springhinge and one that will better serve to retain the door against accidental swinging from its normally-closed position, and as well, also, will better resist the tendency of the door to sag or drop away from the jamb.

The invention consists in the novel features of construction hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly defined in the claims at the end of this specification. 4

Figure l is a perspective view of a springhinge embodying my invention, the leaves being shown partially open. Fig. 2 is a view in rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a viewin horizontal section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. at is a view in side elevation, the leaves of the spring being shown in closed position. Fig. 5 is a view in vertical section on line 5 5 of Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of one of the torsion-spring spindles. Fig. 7 is a view in elevation of a modified form of the invention, one of the leaves of the hinge being shown open. Figs. 8 and 9 are horizontal sections on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, parts being shown in different positions.

A and B denote, respectively, the upper door and j amb leaves of the hinge, and .A and B designate, respectively, the lower door and jamb leaves of the hinge, the upper leaves A and B being connected by an intermediate or central'leaf C, while the lower leaves A and B are connected by the intermediate or central leaf D. The central leaf C is pivotally connected by a pintle c wit-h the door-leaf A and is pivotally connected in like manner by a pintle c with the jamb -leaf B, and in like manner the lower central leaf D is pivotally connected by a pintle d with the door-leaf A and by a pintle d with the jamb-leaf B.

The upper and lower door-leaves A and A are shown as united together by or formedin piece with a central connecting portion'a and the upper and lower jamb-leaves B and B are shown as united by or formed in piece with a connecting portion 1). The partb that connects the upper and lower jamb-leaves B and B is formed with a space 2 to receive a coil-spring E, to the upper end of which is connected a spindle F and to the lower end of which is connected a spindle F, these spindles being journaled, respectively, in the transverse bearing-plates 3 and 4. at the top and bottom of the space 2, wherein the coilspring E is held.

The spindle F is formed with a recess f, adapted to receive the inwardly-turned end of an arm G, the body of which arm rests between raised portions f, formed at the top of the spindle F. My purpose in thus forming the spindle F (and the companion spindle F at the opposite end of the spring E) is to enable the tension of the spring to be modified as desired by shifting the position of the arm G with respect to the projections f upon the spindle F. The body of the arm G projects outwardly from the head of the spindle Fand has an upturned end 9, that passes through an eye formed in one end of a link H, the opposite end of this link H being united by a pin one side of its vertical center.

Under the strain of the coil-springE the spring-actuated arm G serves to normally hold the leaf C in closed position, as seen in Figs. 2, a, and 5. In like manner the spindle F at the lower end of the coil-spring E has its head formed with a central opening f to receive the inwardly-turned end g of the arm G that rests between the raised portions f, projecting from the head of the spindle F. So, also, the outer downwardly-turned end of the arm G enters an eye formed in the end of the link H, the opposite end of this link being connected, as at 6, to the-intermediate leaf D at one side of its vertical center.

By reference more particularly to Figs. 1

and 2 it will be seen that .the spring-actuated arms G and G at the opposite ends of the coil-spring E extend outwardly from a center' ters of their respective intermediate leaves O and D.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that when the door is moved in'onedi rection to open the same it will turn about the pintles c and d as acenter, and byreference to Fig. 1 of the drawings it will be seen that as the door is thus turned-the link H :will be; drawn outward and will carry with it the outer swung open'in the direction of-the arrow, Eig..l,

theangle of thetlink I-Lwithrespect tolthe arm Gis increased,andconsequently the'forcetof.

the spring is less eftectivelyapplied'in resistin gthemovement of the door as it approaches the limit of its open position. -So, also,when the door is in closed position the links lH' and H i are brought more .nearly in \the plane :of the 1 door (see :Fig. 4) than wouldbe the case if theselinks were connected at thetcentertof the'leaves, and consequently the force of the spring in resistingthe sagging of-the' door is moreeitectively applied.

It has heretoforebeenthetpractice to connect-the ends ofa coil-spring to spindles, in

the surface of .whichwere provided pin-holes for the insertionof a .tool for turning the spindles to perrnit the-tension-of the spring to be varied. This necessitated the length-i ening of the spindle-headand consequent-increaseof cost. By forming thespindle'head withan open socketto -receiveithe-bent-end jectionsto en gage sucharm I; amenablediby inserting a suitable tool, such -as-a nail-or thelike, to hold the spindle whilethespringactuated arm is Withdrawn andrthen turn the spindle and i set the arm in a difierent position, so asto increase on diminish,.-asudesired, the tension of the spring.

In the form of my invention illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, and 9. which is thepreferredtorm of theinventionpthe linksH and H thatconnect the-spring-actuated arms G and .G'with the intermediatei1eaves-O and D are-shown as curved, the purpose of thus forming the links being'to permit ornamental knobs c and d to be attached to the knuckle-joints at the inner edges of thehinge-leaves in correspondenceawith-the heads of the pintles c and 01, thus making the ornamentation of the hinge more symmetrical. So, also, the intermediate leaves 0 and D are shown as provided with otfset-lugs and (1 to which the ends of the links H and H are pivotally connected.

These lugs c and d serve to throw the pivot,

.point otthe links H and 11' outside the vertical centers of the intermediate leaves 0 and D and consequently enable the torsion-spring to more effectively exert itspressure in holding'the door 'in normally-closed position and in resisting-the tendency of the door to sag. Moreover, when the offset-lugs c and d are employed the links H and1H do not:needto swingso fanba'ckward toward thejamb as in theconstruction iillust-rated in Figs. 1 and 2 of:the drawings 'andiconsequently the cutting of thefedge of thetjamb tmpermitithe swinging OfllihB linksneedlbe but-veny slight. Thus it will be seenthat the=qpen icasting X at'the inner-end oftthehinge-leavesdsmuchsmaller inthe-construction'shown in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 than in.thekformtof-the invention-illustrated inEigs. Land 4.

lIhave V-found in practico ithat where the links 11 and H" areconnectedttotthezintermediate-leaves instead of :to itheioutsidedeaves of the hinge, as has been heretoforeproposed, thesagging of the door is more effectively guarded-against,-andtwhenthe ends of the links areconnectedoutside thevertical centersof .the intermediate :leaves the iforceot torsionrspring'is .most eftectivelyexerted.

iIt-is obvious that the idetailsof :const-ruc tionimay be modifiedwithout departing from the spirit of the invention and that'features of the .inventionamayrhe employed without its adoption "as an: entirety.

flavingithusi described theiinvention what I- claim asnew, and desire to secureibylhetters Patent, is'

1. Adouble-acting springhinge comprising uppertand .lower :door v andjamb-leaves and intermediate connecting "leaves in combination with aitorsion-spring, projecting arms connected tto the opposite ends of. said torsion springand pivoted links LCOUHGOtGd to said projecting arms and: connected to saidintermediate leaves.

2. In a springihinge, the combinationwith door and jamb leaves and i an intermediate connectingleatand-with a torsion spring havinga projectingarm, of a linktpivotally. connected to said projeoting arm atoneendand connected at its oppositelen'dwto said intermediate leaf at one side of its-vertical center.

3. A double-acting springihinge. comprising upper and lower door and jamb leaves and intermediate .connectingleaves in combination -with-a.torsion springyprojecting arms connected tothe opposite end of saidttorsion spring andipivoted links connected to said projecting arms and. connected to said intermediate leaves, the point of 1 connection .to said links sof said intermediate leaves being Ito at one side of the vertical center of said leaves a door and jamb leaves and an intermediate whereby the force of the spring is more effectively applied.

4:. In a spring hinge, the combination with door and jamb leaves and an intermediate connecting leaf and with a torsional spring having a projecting arm, of a link pivotally connected to said projecting arm at one end and connected at its opposite end to an off-set lug extending from the intermediate leaf a one side of its vertical center. I

5. In a spring hinge, the combination with connecting leaf and with a coil spring, of a spindle for said coil spring having a vertical :5 socket in its end and having its end formed with projections adjacent said vertical socket and an arm having an angular portion set within said vertical socket and having a part extending between said projections.

JOSEPH KEENE. Witnesses:

GEO. P. FISHER, Jr., ALBERTA ADAMICK. 

